This lesson teaches children that God is the great King who made the whole world, so we can sing to Him and trust Him, even when we forget to listen. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God made everything, He takes care of us like a shepherd takes care of sheep, and we should sing to Him and listen when He speaks.
Memory Verse
Psalm 95:7
For he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
(WEB)
Have the children cup their hands together like a little bowl, then slowly open them wide as they say the word “voice.” Then tap your ears twice, like you are listening carefully. Doing this each time you say the verse helps children remember both the words and the reminder to listen.
The Story: Psalm 95 for Kids
Long ago, a songwriter wanted the people of Israel to come together and sing happy songs to God. He said, “Come on, let’s sing loudly to the Lord! Let’s shout for joy to the Rock who saves us!” The people gathered with thankful hearts, and they sang as loud as they could. Their songs were full of praise.
The songwriter wanted them to remember who God really is. He told them God is a great King, greater than any other so-called god. God holds the deep places of the earth in His hands, and He owns the tall mountains too. The songwriter pointed to the sea and said, “God made it, and His hands formed the dry land.” Everything you can see belongs to Him.
Then the songwriter reminded them that they are God’s sheep. A shepherd knows each sheep by name and keeps them safe, and God takes care of His people in the same way. Because He is so good, the songwriter said, “Let’s bow down and kneel before the Lord who made us.” Kneeling is a way of saying, “You are bigger than me, and I trust You.”
But the people had a problem. In the wilderness, long before, they had grumbled and tested God, even though they had seen Him do amazing things. God was very sad about their hard hearts. He said that they kept wandering away from His ways and did not want to listen to Him. The songwriter warned the people not to make the same mistake.
So the message is simple: hear God’s voice today. Don’t close your ears or harden your heart. Listen to Him, trust Him, and sing to Him with a happy heart.
Read It Together
Psalm 95:1-2
1 Oh come, let’s sing to the LORD. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs!
(WEB)
Point out the words “come,” “sing,” and “shout.” Ask the children to show you how they would sing a happy song to God, with their voices and their bodies. Explain that thanksgiving means saying thank you to God for what He has done.
Psalm 95:3-5
3 For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also his. 5 The sea is his, and he made it. His hands formed the dry land.
(WEB)
Point out the words “great God,” “King,” and “his hand.” Have the children look around the room and name things God made, such as trees, animals, and the sky. Remind them that God made the whole world and is greater than everything in it.
Psalm 95:8-9
8 Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work.
(WEB)
Point out the words “Don’t harden your heart.” Explain that a hard heart means not wanting to listen or obey. Ask the children to think of a time they wanted their own way instead of listening to God or a parent, and talk about how a soft heart listens.
Talk About It
- What is one thing God made that you saw today, and how does it show how big God is?
- How does a shepherd take care of his sheep, and how is God like that shepherd for us?
- Why do you think it is good to sing and kneel before God when we pray or worship?
- What can we do when we hear God’s voice, like when we read the Bible or feel Him leading us?
- What is one way we can keep our hearts soft and not grumble or get stubborn?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Sheep Craft
You will need a paper plate, cotton balls, glue, a marker, and some construction paper scraps. Have each child glue cotton balls around the edge of the plate to make a fluffy sheep. Then draw a face and add paper ears and legs. As they work, talk about how God is our Shepherd who cares for us.
Shepherd and Sheep Game
Choose one child to be the shepherd and have the rest be sheep. Blindfold the shepherd, or have him close his eyes, and have the sheep quietly move around the room. The shepherd must listen carefully to find and gently touch one sheep. Explain that the sheep learn to know the shepherd’s voice, just as we learn to listen to God’s voice.
Listening Walk Take-Home Card
You will need an index card, a pencil, and a small envelope. Write “Listen to God today” on the card and ask the child to draw one thing God made that they saw on a walk or at home. Let them put the card in the envelope and tuck it in a pocket or backpack. Encourage them to show the card to a family member at dinner and say one thing they heard God telling them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 95 calls God’s people to worship with joy and humility, and it reminds us that hearing God’s voice is a daily matter, not a once-in-a-while event. The psalm also looks back to the people of Israel at Meribah and Massah, showing that a hardened heart can keep us from entering the rest God offers. Adults can hear both an invitation to praise and a warning against stubbornness.
With children, avoid overstating the story of the wilderness as a list of scary punishments. Keep the focus on God’s kindness and faithfulness, and let the warning be simple: listening to God helps us trust Him and stay close to Him.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, we thank You that You made the whole world, and You are a great and good King. Thank You for taking care of us like a shepherd cares for his sheep. Help us to sing to You, to listen when You speak, and to keep our hearts soft and ready to follow You. Amen.
